Printing press inking means and mechanism



Jan. 30, 1945. Y R ET AL 2,368,500

PRINTING-PRESS INKING MEANS AND MECHANISM Filed May 21, 1942 2Sheets-Sheet} INVENTQRS AUBURN TAYLOR r I ATTORNEY Jan.3,145. TAYL A2,368,500

PRINTING PRESS INKING MEANS AND MECHANISM Filed ma 21, .1942 2Sheets-Sheet 2 v I l fi z w v INVENTORS AUBURN T/IYLOI? ATTORNEY of theinvention.

invention;

Patented Jan. 30,1945

UNITED STATE s PATENT oF-Fics PRINTING PRESS INKING mums AND MECHANISMAuburn Taylor, Charleston, W. Va., and Emory W. Worthington, Chicago,111., assignors to The Goss Printing Press Company, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application May 21, 1942, Serial No. 443,866

9 Claims. 01.101-350) and combinations pointed out in the appendedclaims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, con-' structions,arrangements, combinations, and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one the description, serve to explain the principlesOf the drawings:

Fig; 1- i s .a diagrammatic side view .of an ink fountain, ink. supply,reservoir and circulating means, and portionsof the inking mechanism ofa rotary printing press embodying the present Fig.2 is a vertical crosssectional view of a rotary printing press ink fountain embodying thepresent invention;

. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view-taken along the line 33 ofFig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a detail cross sectional view taken alongline'44 of Fig. 3.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary printingpress with 'an improvedmechanism and means for supplying printin'g'inkto the press. Another object is the provision for such a printing pressof an improved ink fountain and ink circulating means for the fountain.Still another object is the provision of an ink fountain for rotaryprinting presseswhich may be quickly, easily and thoroughly cleanedbetween operations of the printing press, and which also allows for alike cleaning of other parts of the printing press which are utilized inthe inking process and necessarily become .-ink

- covered or stained during operation of the press.

A further object of the invention "is the -provi-' embodiment of theinvention, and together with f for circulating ink to and through theink fountain of a rotary printingpress in desired amounts, forcirculating and agitating the printing ink before it is introduced intothe ink fountain, and to conveniently remove the ink from storage,condition it for printing use and introduce it into the printing pressinking mechanism. A further objectis the provision of an improved inkfountain in which the printing ink may be maintained at desired andvariable levelsin order to obtain the desired intensity in the printedproduct. Another object is the provision of improved ink fountain andink supply and circulating means for a rotary printing press which is,adapted to the economical and eflicient use of water base inks in thepress.

-With these and other objects in view there is provided in anillustrative embodiment of the present invention, in a rotary printingpress an ink drum on the-surface of which .the printing ink is to bedeposited in a uniform enveloping film preparatory to being vconveyedtherefrom to the printing member to be inked. An ink fountain isprovided as a source for supplying printing ink to the press and hasrotatably mounted therein a fountain roller positioned tolie at leastpartly submerged in the body of ink in the fountain. A suitable rollerwhich may be helicallyribbed or multiple disk roller is positioned torotate out of peripheral contact withthe .fountairr roller but in filminterference with the ink theteon, and the printing ink is therebyconveyed to a transfer roller positioned to rotate in peripheral contactwith the spiral or multiple ink roller and the ink drum. A fountainblade and page cut-off blade are positioned along the length ofthe-fountain roller and adjacent the periphery thereof, and these bladesmay be of generally conventibnal construction and for the usual purposeof'adjusting the printing effect at 1 individual columns of the printedproduct and of sion of an ink fountain for a printing press which may beeasily and quickly drained of ink after a printing operation in order toclean the fountain andother parts of the press which are touch'd'by theink, and may be quickly and easily'ag'ain' filled with ink when printingis to blanking out page widths in the inking mechanism when less thancapacity numbers of pages are beingprinted on the press. A refuse col.-

lector 'or' blade is likewise positioned along the fountain rolleradjacent the periphery thereof to.

prevent bits of paper and other debris from falling into the inkfountain and the ink therein.

The ink fountain for the inking mechanismis divided into two sections ortroughs by the presence of a baflle plate positioned lengthwise of thefountain, the-fountain roller .being located in one of the ink fountain.sections thus formed. The battle plate at its top is provided withmeans under the control of the printing'press operator for increasing ordecreasing the efiective height a: the plate, so that the depth of theink in the fountain which will overflow the baflle plate may bedetermined and varied. The outer walls of the ink fountain aresufficiently high so that the reservoir for the printing ink and fluidlines between the reservoir and the fountain. One such line provides forfluid communication between thebottom of the reservoir and the first inkfountain section which contains the fountain roller, andanother-interconnects the bottom of the second section of the inkfountain and the reservoir. Thus ink may beintroduced from the reservoirinto the first ink fountain section, pumping means .bein placed in theline therebetween, flowing over the baiiieplate when a suflicient inkdepth is attained, and thereafter may be returned by gravity flow to theink reservoir through the second line. Another ink conducting line mayconnect the top of the ink reservoir. and the flrst ink line abovementioned which connects the bottom of the reservoir and the inkfountain, and the pump referred to is positioned in the first line inits length between the bottom of the reservoir and the connecting pointof the ink line back to the top of the reservoir. A two way valve. ispositioned at this connection point of these lines, and it is apparentthat by setting the valve as required the ink may be pumped out of thebottom of the reservoir and returned to the top of the reservoir, or maybe pumped from the bottom of the reservoir into the section of the inkfountain in which the fountain roller is positioned.

A further ink conducting line may intersect the first line in its lengthbetween the pump and the bottom of the ink reservoir, and another twoway valve is positioned at this intersection. The

other terminus of this last line may be open so that it may beconveniently inserted into the barrels or other containers in whichprinting ink issuppiied, whereby the ink may be withdrawn from suchcontainers and' umped into the top of the ink reservoiror directly tothe ink fountainby suitable adjustment of the two way valveswhich-havebeen mentioned.

A fluid line from a water or other ink fountain cleansing agent sourcemay also be introduced into the section or trough of the ink fountain inwhich the fountain roller is positioned, and a suitable draw-off line islead from the bottom I of the other section of the ink fountain to thesewer or other disposal place. A valve is located in the bottom of thebaiiie plate allowing for the flow of fluid-from the section of the inkfountain having the fountain roller to the other section when that isdesired for the complete draining of the fountain.

It will be understood that the foregoin general description and thefollowing detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory ofthe invention but are not restrictive thereof.

in a conventional and well understood manner.

. The inking mechanism for the press is provided with an ink fountain l2as the ink source, and the interior of the fountain is divided into twosections or troughs, which are lettered A and B in Fig. l, by mean ofthe bafile plate 13 extending between the lateral walls of the fountain.The fountain roller I4 is mounted for rotation in the larger section ortrough A of the ink fountain, and a spiral or multiple disk roller 15 asshown and described in prior U. S. Patent No. 2,154,544 is mounted torotate with the fountain roller. The printing ink which is thus conveyedfrom the fountain [2 :by the fountain roller 14 to the spiral roller I5is transferred to the ink drum 10 by a transfer roller l6 which ismounted to rotate in peripheral contact with the ink drum in and spiralroller l5.

As shown in detail in Fig. 2, an L-shaped supporting member 20 isprouided to overlie a portion of the top of section A of the inkfountain and to support in proximity to the fountain roller M thefountain blade 2| and the page cut-oil blade 22. these blades isconventional and comprises generally a plurality of adjusting rods 23threaded into support 20 to engage fountain blade 2i at spaced intervalsalong its length with a desired pressure, the pressure being adjustable.by the pressman by means of the wing nuts 24 which tum rods 25' to driveadjusting rod 23 further into the support 20 or to withdraw it somewhat.The distance of fountainblade 2| from fountain roller 14 determines thethickness of the ink film upon the fountain roller which -is availablefor transfer by the spiral roller iii. The number of adjusting rods 23.will correspond to the number of column widths which may be printed onthe printing press, one rod being providedfor each adjacent theperiphery of fountain roller H or retracted to a distance therefrom by astop arm 2! engageable with upwardly spring pressed rod 28 connected. toarm 29. Each arm 29 has a rigid connection with a cut-off blade 22, andthe blades may be individually adjusted to a position adjacent theperiphery of fountain roller I 4 a distance from the periphery less thanthe distance between the fountain roller [4 and roller IS in order toblank out full page widths in the inking mechanism when th same are notto be .Referring now to the illustrative embodiment a of the presentinvention shown in the accom printed in the press.

As shown indetail in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings the variable heightmeans are provided at the top of the-baffle plate l3. As illustrativelyshown, theupper edge of the baffle plate is formed with a plurality ofrectangular notches 3| which are to be covered to a greater Theconstruction and operation of I plate ink fountain g tudinally of thebaffle plate. The plate 32 has a plurality of inclined cam slots 33spaced along its length, and cap screws 34 are positioned in these slotsand securely threaded into the baffle plate l3. An adjusting screw 36 isthreaded through the lateral wall 31 of the ink fountain l2 and engagesa'bracket 36 secured to the end of plate 32. Thus, by turning the handwheel 39 the plate 32 may be made to cover off more or less of the depthof the slots 3|, whereby the effective ink retaining height of thebailleplate may be varied as desired. e

A refuse collector 4|! may be afllxed to the top of the baflle plate |3by means of a plurality f screws 4|, and this member extends along thewidth of theyfountain cylinder M to strain the ink througha plurality ofrelatively small holes 42 in order to trap scraps of paper and otherdebris which otherwise would be picked up by the inking mechanism. andmake its operation imperfect. A cover plate 43 is hinged to the backwall44 'of the ink fountain to protect the ink from dust and dirt as wellas'to prevent splash and evaporation of the ink in the fountain.

A valve 45 is provided at the b ttom of baflie l3 whereby free. fluidcommunications may be had between the sections A and B of the |2. Asillustratively shown -in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings this valve maycomprise a cylindrical housing 46 integral with side wall 37 of the inkfountain and 'at the bottom thereof. An opening 35 extends through thehouslng for the passage of fluid, and. a tapered valve core 41 is fittedinto the housing for rotary movement. Thevalve core 41 has a rectangularrecess 46 at its inner end, which may be made to register with theopening 35 in order to open the valve. Th hand control member 50 isprovided to open and close the valve as desired, and a threaded cap 5|is afiixed to a projection of the valve casing 46 through side wall 31to prevent external leakage of the valve, suitable packing 52 beingprovided for this pur- As shown in Fig. l, a relatively large inkreservoir is provided below the ink fountain |2, and ink communicationfrom the bottom of the reservoir to section A of the ink fountain isallowed through a series of ink lines 6|, 62, 63, 64. Ink lineestablishes communication between the top of reservoir 66 and thejunction of lines 63 and 64, at which point a two way valve 66 ispositioned so that ink from line 63 may be directed either through line64 to the ink fountain orthrough line 65 to the reservoir, ascurcumstances require. Another ink line 61 "meets the junction of lines6| and 62 where another two way valve 63 is fitted, and this line isleft open at its other end to pick up printing ink from barrels 68 orother containers in which the printing ink may be supplied totheprinter.

pump IO-is placed between lines 62 and 63, and it is apparent that thepump is adapted to furnish ink to line 63 either from the bottom of thereservoir 66 through line 6| or from the barrels 66 through line 61,dependingupon the setting effected upon two way valves 69.

A hand valve 64' is positioned in line 64 to control the flow of ink totheink fountain I2.

a valve 12 is inserted in the line to control the gravity flow of theink.

A fluid line 15, having hand valve 16, leads from a source of water orother suitable fountain cleansing agent into section A of ink fountainl2, and a. lead-off line 11, having hand valve 18, from the bottom ofsection B of the ink fountain leads to the sewer or other place fordisposal through the line. It is to be specifically noted that the fourouter walls of the ink fountain |2 (the support 20 serving to someextent as a part of the front wall 88 of the fountain) are constructedsufiiciently high so that they extend above the level of the fountainblade 2|, the page cut-off blade 22, the refuse collector 40, theadjustable plate 32, and the ink transfer level between the fountainroller I4 and the spiral roller l5.

When the rotary printing press is to .be put in operation, and at a timewhen the ink fountain I2 is empty, the printing ink may be withsired toactuate and stir the ink for some period 'of time before printing isbegun with it, the

valve 69 may be switched to its other position and.pumping continued,the ink then circulating from the bottom of ink reservoir 60 throughlines 6|, 62, 63, 65 and back into the reservoir at the top thereof. Theink is thereby brought to a condition of uniform consistency and is wellstirred and agitated.- Thereafter the two way valve 66 may be switchedto its other position and the larger section or trough A of the inkfountain l2 filled with the desired amount of ink, the baffle valve 45of course being closed at this time. The ink may, of course, be supplieddirectly from the barrels 68 to section A of the ink fountain by pumpingthrough lines 61, 62, 63 and 64, the reservoir 6|! being cut out byadjustment of valves 66 and 69. g

The printing press operation may now be commenced and ink has beenprovided about the fountain roller l4 for transfer to other parts of theinking mechanism. The ink may be caused to continuously circulatebetween the reservoir 66 and the ink fountain l2, section A of not.

the ink fountain being sufficiently filled so that ink will flow overbaflle I3 and plate 32 into the second section B and through line H andvalve.

The ink fountain may be drained after operation of. the press byterminating the introduc- An electrically or otherwise convenientlydriven I An ink retumline 1| conducts ink from the bottom of the smallersection or trough B of the ink fountalnback to the reservoir 60,; and

tion of ink into the fountain, and opening baffle.

valve 46, whereupon the ink'in sections A and B will drain intoreservoir 66 through line". Thereafter the ink fountain and portions ofthe inking mechanism may be thoroughly cleaned and flushed. For thispurpose the ink supply and circulating system may be cut oif by closingvalves 64' and I2, and water or other suitable cleansing agentintroduced through line I5. By closing baille valve .45, as well asvalve 18 in the waste line 'I'I,the cleansing agent may be made toflll'the ink fountain 'to the top of its the ink fountain back intoreservoir 60.

thus continuously circulated during opouter walls, and all parts of theinking mec nism within the fountain and below the level of the cleansingagent will be conveniently and thoroughly flushed. This action'willinclude, of course, the fountain roller i4 and the lower portion ofspiral roller 15, fountain blade 2|; page cut-off blade 22, refusecollector l and the plate 32 adjacent the top of baffle 13. When the inkfountain is thus filled the printing press may be turned over or made tooperate at a very slow speed, whereby the cleansing agent may betransferred bythe spiral roller to other parts of the inking mechanismabove the ink fountain. The cleansing agent may then be allowed to runoil through line 11, and the cleansing process repeated as often as maybe advantageous or desired.

The present invention has been found to be particularly useful whenwater base inks are to be used in the printing press. This type of inkhas a particularly strong tendency to jail or set when it has stoodundisturbed for some time, and the circulating, agitating andsupplystanding in the reservoir for some time when the press is not inoperation.

After the ink is in proper condition for printing it is pumped intosection A of the ink fountain l2, flows over baifle I3 and plate 32 whenthat height is reached, and flows from section B of The eration of thepress and the ink is maintained in a properly fluid and uniformcondition. Furthermore, by this continuous circulation the ink insection A of the fountain will be maintained at a constant depth aboutthe fountain roller II, the ink used in the printing process beingconstantly and simultaneously replaced. Variations in the depth to whichthe fountain roller is immersed in ink are accompanied by variations inthe intensity of the color printed on the final product, and this isparticularly true in the use of water base inks. The present inventiontherefore provides a means for maintaining the ink at the desired levelto effect color intensity in the printed product without recourse toadjustment of. the fountain blade 2i. The depth of the inkabout fountainroller ll may be conveniently .varied from time to time while the pressis in operation by raising or lowering plate 32, by adjusting wheel 39.

- When operation of the press is terminated the fountain maybe drainedof ink through baille valve 45 and pipe II to reservoir 60. The inkfountain and inking mechanism may then be flushed and cleaned by theintroduction of cleansing fluid through line 75. -When water base inksare used water has been found to be,

aneconomical and eflicient cleansing agent, and the fountain i2 may befilled to capacity therewith. The fountain blade 2l, page cut-oil blade22, refuse collector 40, baflie l3 and plate 32, the

fountain roller l4 and part of spiral roller i5 are then immersed inwater, which will remove deposits of ink from the members and preventink fountain and a valve at the bottom of the caking. The press may alsobe operated slowly so that water will be conveyed by the spiral rollerI5 to transfer roller l6 and thence to other portions of the inkingmechanism and thus loosen up and clean off hardened bits of ink intheinking mechanism. j

When water base inks are used it has been found desirable to providenon-rusting surfaces for the interior of the ink fountain, and bakedenamel, galvanizedzinc, or the Vinylite" base coatings are among thematerials suitable for this purpose.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What we claim is:

1. Inking means for a otary printing press comprising, in combination,an ink fountain having an inclined bottom and divided by a, baille plateinto two liquid retaining sections, valve means at the bottom of theplate allowing liquid communication between the sections through theplate, adjustable means at the top of the. baffle plate for varying theeffective ink retaining height of the haille plate, the maximum inkretaining height of said ballie plate being below the level of thelowest outer wall of the ink fountain, an ink reservoir below the'ountain, means including a pump for continuously introducing ink fromthe bottom of the reservoir into the first section of the ink fountainwhereby the first section becomes full and the ink overflows the hameplate and into the second section,

' means for continuously returning the ink by the bottom of thefountain, whereby the fountain able means at the top of the baille platefor varygravity flow from the bottom of the second section to thereservoir, and a fountain roller mounted for rotation in the firstsection, whereby the depth of immersion of the fountain roller in theink in the first section may bedetermined and varied by said means forvarying the oncetivednk retaining height of the baffle plate and saiddepth remains constant for any particular adjusted position of saidmeans, and both sections may be drained into the ink reservoir, 2. In-anink fountain for a rotaryprinting press, a b'aiiie plate joining twoouter walls and the bottom of the fountain whereby the fountain isdivided into two liquid containing sectionathe bottom of the fountainbeing inclined, valve means at the bottom of the plate allowing liquidcommunication between the sections through the plate and adjustablemeans at the top of the baffle plate for varying the effective inkretaining height or the baflle plate, the maximum ink retaining heightof the baffle plate being below the level of the lowest outer wall ofthe fountain.

3. In an ink fountain for a rotary printing press, a baiiie platejoining two outer walls and is divided into two liquid containingsections the bottom of the fountain being inclined, adjusting theeffective ink retaining height of the bafile late, the maximum inkretaining height of the bame plate being below the level of the lowestouter wall of the fountain, a port in anouter wall of the ink fountainfor the introduction of ink into one section of the ink fountain,another Port in an outer-'wall of the fountain for the withdrawal of inkfrom the other section of the munication between the way of the inkreservoir and aacauoo' baflle plate openable and closableto permit andrestrict liquid communication between the two ink fountain sections.

4. Inking means for a rotary comprising, in combination, an ink fountaindivided by a bailie plate into two liquid retaining sections, the top'ofthe baifie plate beingbelow the level of the lowest outer wall of theink fountain, an ink reservoir, a first liquid line for liquidcommunication between the bottom of the ink reservoir and one of saidink fountain sections, a second liquid line for liquid communicationsbet 'een the bottom of the other ink fountain section and the inkreservoir, a third liquid line for liquid communication between thefirst line and the top of the ink reservoir, a two way valve at theintersection of the first and third liquid lines, and a pum in the firstliquid printing Dress line between the two way valve and the inkreservoir for selectively pumping ink from the bottom of the inkreservoir into the top of the ink reservoir and into the ink fountain.

5. Inking means fora rotary printing press comprising, in combination,an ink fountain divided by a bafiie plate into two liquid retainingsectio adjustable means at the top of the baffie plate for varying theeffective ink retaining height of the baiiie plate, the maximum inkretaining height of the baflle plate being below the level of the lowestouter wall of the ink fountain, a fountain roller mounted for rotationin one of the ink fountain sections, an ink reservoir, a first liquidline for-liquid communication between the bottom of the ink reservoirand the ink fountain section having the fountain roller, a second liquidline for liquid communication between the bottom of the other inkfountain section and the ink reservoir, a third liquid line for liquidcommunication between the first line and thetop of the ink reservoir, 9.two way valve at the intersection of the first and third liquid lines,and a pump in the first liquid line between the two way valve and theink reservoir for selectively pumping ink from the bottom of the inkreservoir into the topof the ink reservoir and into the section of thefountain roller.

6. Printing ink supply, circulation and agita tion means for a rotaryprinting pres fountain comprising, in combination, an ink reservoir, afirst liquid line for liquid communication between the bottom of thereservoir and the ink fountain, a second liquid line for liquidcommunication between the bottom of the ink fountain and the inkreservoir, a third liquid line for liquid comtop of the ink reservoirand the first liquid line, a firsttwo way valve at the ink fountainhaving sections, adjustable means at the top of the heme plate forvarying the effective ink retaining height of the bailie plate, themaximum ink retaining height of the bafiie plate being below the levelof the lowest outer wall of the ink fountain, a fountain roller mountedfor rotation in one ink fountain section, an ink reservoir, a firstliquid line for liquid communication between the bottom of the inkreservoir and the ink fountain sec- .tion having the fountain roller, asecond liquid line for liquid communication between the ,bottom of theother ink fountain section and the ink reservoir, a third liquid linefor liquid communication between the first liquid line and, the top ofthe ink reservoir, a first two way valve at the intersection of thefirst and third liquid lines, a fourth liquid line intersecting thefirst liquid line between the first two way valve and the ink reservoir,a second two way valve at the intersection of the first and fourthliquid lines, the other end of the fourth liquid line being open forinsertion into a printing ink supply, and apump in the first liquid linebetween the first and second two way valves, whereby printing ink may beselectively pumped from a printing ink'supply to the section of. the inkfountain having the fountain roller and the top of the ink reservoir andfrom the bottom of the ink reservoir to the top of the ink reservoir andto the section of the ink fountain having the fountain roller and theink may be returned to the ink reservoir from-the other section of theink fountain.

8. Inking means for a rotary printing press comprising, in combination,an ink fountain, a fountain roller mounted for rotation in the inkfountain, a transfer roller adjacent the fountain I roller to transferink therefrom, a fountain blade and a page cut-ofi blade adjacent theperiphery of the fountain roller, said blades and the ink transfer levelbetween the fountain roller and the transfer roller being beneath thelevel of the lowest outer wall of the ink fountain, liquid conductingmeans for introducing cleansing fluid in the ink fountain and otherliquid conducting means for drawing 01f cleansing fiuid from the bottomof the fountain.

9. Inking means for a rotary printing press comprising, in combination,an ink fountain divided by a baflle plate into two liquid retaininsections, adjustable means at the top of the bailie plate for varyingthe effective ink retaining height the intersection of the first andthird liquid lines,

a fourth liquid line intersecting the first liquid line between thefirst two way valve and the reservoir, a second two way valve at theintersection of the first and fourth liquid lines, the other end of thefourth liquid line being open for insertion into a printing ink supply,anda pumpin the first liquid line between the first and-second twovalves, whereby printing ink may be seiectively pumped from a printingink supply to the ink fountain and the top of the ink reservoir and fromthe bottom of the ink reservoir to the top from the bottom of the inkreservoir to the ink fountain.

'7. Inklng means for a rotary printing press comprising, in combination,an ink fountain divided by a baffle plate into two liquid retaining ofthe baille plate, the maximum ink retaining height of the baffle platebeing below the level of the lowest outer wall of the ink fountain, afountain roller mounted for rotation in one ink fountain section, atransfer roller adjacent the fountain roller to receive and transfer inktherefrom, a fountain blade and a page cut-off blade adjacent theperiphery of the fountain roller, said blades 'and th ink transfer levelbetween the fountain roller and the transfer roller and the adjustablemeans at the top of the baffle plate be-' ing beneath the level of thelowest outer wall of the ink fountain, means for introducing ink intothe ink fountain section having the fountain roller, means for removingink from the other ink fountain section, means for introducing cleansingliquid into the ink fountain section having thefountain roller and meansfor removing said cleansing liquid from the other ink fountain, section.

- AUBURN TAYLOR.

EMORY W. WORTHINGTON.

